World Cup 2026 Preview. Which Nation Can Get Their Hands On The Famous Trophy?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup promises to be a tournament for the ages with 48 teams competing to be the champions of the world. Will Argentina be the third country to retain the trophy or could England bring football home for the first time in 50 years. Can Scotland reach the knockout stages for the first time and can newcomers Cape Verde prove themselves on the world stage. What ever happens this tournament has so much riding on it.
Group A
Group A of the World Cup up is quite a fair, balanced group with Mexico and South Korea being favourites to progress to the round of 32. With Mexico having Premier League starters Raúl Jiménez and Edson Álvarez who provide strength in midfield and plenty of goals up front with Raúl being on 9 goals for the season. South Korea are a modern World Cup staple with this being their sixth successive tournament qualified for. They are also a force to be reckoned with, with Spurs legend Son Heung-min with an astonishing 54 goals in 143 appearances, which is a goal roughly every three games. The 2026 World Cup is an historic one for the Czech Republic as it is their first tournament since Germany 2006.
They qualified after coming from behind from 0-2 down to beat Republic of Ireland on penalties in their playoff final. They are ambitious and rightly so with Bundesliga star Patrik Schick being their target man with 16 goals for Leverkusen accompanied with 25 goals in 42 appearances for his nation. West Ham regular Tomáš Souček also stars for the Czechs with his box to box style benefiting the Czech tactics as he helps defend and quickly gets counter attacks going. 2010 hosts South Africa are also back in the big time which is their first since 2010. Burnley forward Lyle Foster is their leading striker with 10 goals in 30 appearances. Aside from that, they don't really have many big names and are favourites to be eliminated in the group stage. Mexico are favoured to top the group with Czech Republic and South Korea closely following for that second spot. However all three of these teams have quality talent and can easily be one of the eight best third placed finishers.
Group B
Group B in the World Cup is arguably the weakest group in the whole tournament with the highest ranked team being Switzerland at #19 with the lowest being Bosnia and Herzegovina at #65. Switzerland are favourites to top the group with Champions League winning and Man City starter defender Manuel Akanji being a rock at the back and is a ball playing, modern defender who can get attacks going. Also, they have Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka with 144 caps and 6 major tournaments for the Swiss, not only his playmaking abilities but his experience will go a long way in helping this Switzerland team go far in the tournament .
Also in Group B, is Bosnia and Herzegovina making their second appearance in the World Cup their other being in 2014 where they had a third place finish in their group. The thought of making history and getting to the knockout stages of a World Cup will really motivate the nations heros; and they have a decent chance with players such as veteran Edin Džeko and Atalanta Centre Back Sead Kolašinac who is a strong tackler and has a high passing accuracy of 88%. This helps Bosnia as his high passing rate and aggressive tackling help them get the ball and play forward out to attack. With these assets and Džeko's clinical finishing with 73 goals in 148 appearances for the Balkan side and he has played in their previous World Cup campaign too so he knows how to play in those pressure moments.
After hosting last time out, Qatar have also qualified for the World Cup and actually being higher ranked than Bosnia. However, they are favourites to be eliminated. They had a pretty strong qualifying from winning 10, drawing 3, and losing 5. Despite being favourites to go home early they still have some players who can give them a spark and shock the world and get to the knockouts. One notable player is Akram Afif who has 15 goals for Qatari side Al saad not only his goals make him one of Qatars top players his agile nature also makes him a top talent in Qatar as he glides through the pitch. Despite their players not being well known in Europe, they still have talent.
Last but not least in Group B is co-hosts Canada. They are a solid team that are high pressing and get going quickly getting past defenses with quick forward passing. One of the main players who gets the attacks going is Alphonso Davies, who has won numerous honours for Bayern Munich. He turns into an attacking wing-back with his elite speed and skill he then normally crosses into the opposition penalty area for the forwards to get on the end of it. Canada also have a big advantage of playing in Canada. Getting to play at home means they get more fans behind them with high turnouts expected. Not also that but they are used to the Canadien climate and can play better as they are used to it while the others will be struggling to cope with what is expected to be a hot summer over the Atlantic. About 92% of hosts get to the knockout stages with only 2 being knocked out in the group stage on 2 occasions (South Africa 2010, Qatar 2022). Despite Group B being a weak group, it is close with all teams in with a fair chance of getting through. Switzerland and Canada are favourites but Bosnia have a real chance of getting through and might well do as an automatic or third place qualifier. Qatar also have a chance, despite being doubted, they still have a chance to get to the round of 32 but most likely as a third place finisher.
Group C
World Cup Group C is a balanced group with World Cup regulars Brazil and semi-finalists in 22 Morocco. Notably there is Scotland, who make their first appearance since 1998, and Haiti making their first appearance since 1974.
Scotland make their first appearance in a World Cup since France '98 and the Tartan Army are hopeful of reaching the knockout stages of a major tournament for the first time in their history. They qualified in dramatic style after scoring two late goals versus Denmark to win 4-2. Scotland have lots of talent including Napoli fan-favourite Scott McTominay and Aston Villa captain John McGinn. These two link up well in the attacking line up behind the main strikers Lyndon Dykes and Che Adams. Typically, Dykes tends to prefer to play with someone alongside him to assist and can also overload the penalty area. The two midfielders work off each other with McGinn dropping deeper and feeding in McTominay and the other strikers to get goals. The Tartan Army will be in full voice in America to watch their team, can they deliver?
Group B also contains footballing powerhouses Brazil and Morocco with star players such as Achraf Hakimi, Casemiro, Neymar Junior and Sofyan Amrabat. They are favourites to go through automatically and to really go far in the tournament. AFCON finalists and controversial winners Morocco come in as a strong force and with a right reason with being a defensively solid side with attacking prowess like Brahmin Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi. These two have a combined total of 45 international goals and should be getting in the goals this summer. Also they have Al Hilal goalkeeper Yasmine Bonou with 12 clean sheets, a 69% save rate and 44 saves for the Saudi team, he is a veteran player with 73 caps and a whole load of experience.
Also in Group B are 5 time winners Brazil. After reaching the quarter finals in Qatar, Carlo Ancelotti's side are hopefull of making it further into the tournament and so they should with artful, skillful players such as Casemiro, Vini Junior, Matheus Cunha and Premier League winning goalkeeper Allison they are favourites to top the group and are one of the front runners to win the whole thing. Being Brazil, they still use their skilled players to glide through teams but it's combined with the modern footballing ethos. They mainly use wing play, feeding it out to wide players like Rodrygo and Vini Jr and with their skills and pace cut in the box to shoot or pass.
Finally, there is Haiti making their second every appearance in the World Cup they are underdogs to advance. However, that does just eliminate them straight away, they are playing relatively close to home so the fans should be in numbers to support them. Also, they have some PL starters like Wilson Isidor for Sunderland and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde. Bellegarde is a midfielder for already relegated Wolves but he has been a star this Season and could well get a move from the Midlands side and stay in the top flight. He is dribbling midfielder and likes to take the ball forward at any time possible. Also standing at just 5"7, his low centre of gravity lets him slide past defenders and create attacking chances. Wilson Isidor, with 5 goals for the Black Cats this season, is a powerful explosive forward with great pace resulting in lots of chances created. He is a good target man and other teams will have issues keeping him at bay.
Group C is a strong group with powerhouses like Brazil and Morocco and inexperienced World Cup nations with Scotland and Haiti. Anything can happen in this group it is certainly one to keep an eye on.
Group D
Group D consists of USA, Paraguay, Australia and Türkiye. This group is also quite a weak group with all teams having a good chance of progressing to the round of 32. USA are the favourites to progress, one big advantage they have is playing in their home nation. With sellouts expected they will have tens of thousands of fans rooting for them. Also, they will be acclimatised to the scorching summer. However, it's all down to the players on the pitch in the end, and they have some top quality talent from big leagues around the world. For instance, they have Championship winner and top scorer this season for Coventry City Haji Wright with 17 goals in 40 appearances for the Sky Blues. He is an orthodox number 9 getting on the end of passes and scoring rebounds from the goalkeeper. His clinical finishing is also accompanied by his wide prowess, he can play out on the left wing and does quite regularly. His strong pace lets him cut balls in the box or just cut in and shoot. He is a real headache for other defenses. Another superstar from the states is Leeds' Brendan Aaronson. With 9 goal involvements this season his attacking strength has helped the Yorkshire side stay in the Premiership. His high pressing, attacking style, speed and skills on the ball. With the high pressing style of his country, his speed and high pressing perfectly aid this and really get the team going during swift attacks.
Another favourite to progress is Türkiye. Being ranked 22nd in the world they are no easy roll over with players like Arda Güler and Hakan Çalhanoğlu they have serious talent and will do well on the world stage. Türkiye tend to play a 4-2-3-1 formation and with a double pivot in midfield that allows them to win the ball and distribute it forward, primarily to the wings. In attack, they have Real Madrid striker Arda Güler. Despite being injured, he is expected to start in this years World Cup. With 4 goals and 9 assists for the Spanish giants, he is an innovative playmaker with the ability to score but also gets plenty of assists along the right wing.
Another South American team in this tournament is Paraguay. Not well known on the world stage, they are are 40th in the world. They still have talent like Strasbourg midfielder Julio Enciso. With 6 goals in 26 appearances, he plays a strong part in the attack with his versatile, high energy style. His speed and ball skill let him ease past defenders and get scoring opportunities. Paraguay tend to play a solid, physical game focusing on winning duels in a 4-4-2 low block making them hard to break down. Then, they use their flair up front to hit teams on the break. Being one of 6 South American teams, they won't want to be going home early and will be troublesome in their games.
Finally, you have the Socceroos of Australia, this being their sixth successive tournament, they know the ways and how to play against tough opposition. One key player is long-serving number 1 goalkeeper Mathew Ryan. With over 100 caps and 39 clean sheets, he is a hero in nets for the Socceroos and aids them both on and off the pitch. Another player for them that has really shone this season, is Middlesbrough midfielder Riley Mcgree. With 9 goal contributions this season, he is a real threat down the middle of the pitch and really helps Australia. His ability to break down defenses, hit good forward passes really get the Socceroos going and gets them scoring and creating chances.
Despite being a weak group, Group D is balanced with every team in with a chance of getting to the next round.
Group E
This is quite an interesting group, with World Powerhouse Germany mixing with tiny islands Curaçao. This group also includes international well-knowns Côte d'Ivoire and Ecuador, despite being a weak group with teams not really well known on the world stage (except Germany), the battle for qualification will be interesting and don't be fooled by the 'dull' teams.
Lets start with overwhelming favourites Germany. The 4 times winners are favourites to progress against lower ranked opposition. Under head coach Julian Nagelsmann, they have some top talent such as Florian Wirtz and Champions League winner Kai Havertz. Almost every one of their players is well known in Europe and have some great tactical and skilled players. One of their key players is Kai Havertz with 34 goals in all competitions in his stint at the Gunners. He is a forward who sits deeper more into midfield and gets the ball then moves forward which enables space for the wingers to get forward. His late box runs really get him and his team a lot of goals. Being in this weak group enables Germany to get through easily which will be the first time they have done this since they won it in 2014. They are expected to get through but it's no guarantee with Ivory Coast and Ecuador in their rear view mirror.
Ivory Coast and Ecuador should be shooting it out for that second automatic qualification spot, and with fair reason to do so. The African Giants of Ivory Coast have many star players such as Ibrahim Sangaré, Evann Guessand and Ousmane Diomandé. They play an attacking 4-3-3 formation with a solid defense and midfield with creativity on the wings like Man United winger Amad Diallo who regularly contributes to United's goals weather a goal or assist. Sangaré, with 11 goals in 53 appearances is a vital player in this system, his 2.9 tackles per game make him in the top 20% of all PL players and his ability to win that ball back with an 86.7% tackling rate makes him perfect for starting attacks on the opponent.
Ecuador on the on the other hand mainly utilise a more rigid 4-4-2 formation focusing on defensive solidity and swift counter attacks. One player who is crucial in this is Chelsea's Moisés Caicedo. His elite tackling, interceptions and passing with an impressive 92% pass accuracy rate. He is key in getting the ball and playing it forward. Another player who lets this system work is talisman Enner Valencia. With a total of 49 goals in 105 appearances, that is on average a goal every other game. He specialises in getting on the end of through balls with his raw pace and surprisingly good headers seen he is only 5"10 he should get in a good few goals for Ecuador this campaign and his experience will really aid them throughout the tournament
To round off Group E is World Cup newbies Curaçao. After shocking Jamaica in the Final qualification round, Dick Advocaat has led them to their first World Cup and what an occasion it will be, for some of these players, who would never have dreamed of this. Despite being against former winners, they will have belief to pull off arguably one of the biggest shock in football history. Let's dive deeper into the team that's hoping to shock the world. One of their key players is Tahith Chong, the ex Premier League midfielder now finds himself competing with some of the best players in the world. He is quite a versatile player as he can play as a box to box midfielder, winger or an attacking midfielder. He is known for his ball progression, getting the ball in deeper areas and dribbling it forward to then shoot or cross the ball into the box depending on what position he is in. The Bacuna brothers (Leandro and Juninho) are the engines of the team. Leandro conducts the tempo and breaks up play, his brother drives forward and can fire one from long range or pass it to a teammate to keep the attack going. They play in a classic 4-3-3 formation which creates balance within the team.
Group E is an exciting group with 3 teams scrapping for automatic qualification and first-timers Curaçao showing themselves on the big time.
Group F
Group F is an interesting group with 3 out of the four teams having a great chance of making to the round of 32. Japan, Netherlands and Sweden are all in with a chance of qualifying. Tunisia also are in this group but are outsiders to qualify as they don't have the same level of team as the three mentioned teams above.
Sweden, making their first appearance since Russia 2018 are hoping to make it to the knockout stages and really prove themselves on the world stage. They play a defense heavy 5-3-2 formation focusing on defensive solidity, going forward, they rapidly speed forward shocking the opposing teams defense. They are direct and play long balls over the top to Premier League regulars, Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak who are quite regular Centre Forwards but they have the ability to hold play up and give it to a teammate. With 41 goals and counting between them this season, Sweden rely heavily on these to get them goals and get them and keep them in games.
Favourites for the group, The Netherlands are favourites for a reason. They have many star players such as Virgil Van Dijk, Cody Gakpo and Tijjani Reijjnders. These players are key to their success and overall worldwide ranking. Virgil Van Dijk, winning all there is to win with Liverpool, is key to their success team. With 283 tackles across qualifying and just 6 goals conceded in 10 games, he is a workhorse at the back and his prowess in the air ads more attacking depth during set pieces. Tijjani Reijjnders, with 14 goal involvements for City this season, is key for Ronald Koeman's side. He is a good distributor with a 90.3% passing rate and with 17 chances created, he is a good creative player who's solid passing is paramount to the slow build up that 'The Oranje''s performances. Their no.9 is Liverpool forward Cody Gakpo, he has scored 9 goals for The Reds this season and has been one of their main goal sources. He plays with a combination of physical strength, good finishing and technical dribbling. He likes to drift out to the left and cut in when the ball is at his feet. Also, he sticks himself at the back post and uses his 6"4 height to score or assist from set pieces.
Japan will also be having themselves on to progress. With players like Brighton star Kaoru Mitoma and Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo. When defending, they play a low block, trying to absorb opposition pressure. They succeed at this as they have only let in 6 goals in their last 10 games. They also have a tackle success rate of about 80%. With about a third of opposition shots are blocked too. When atacking, they tend to go 1v1 against the opposing defenders utilising quick skilled, on the ball players to get forward. Also they use overlapping fullbacks to get forward and they can cut in the box and shoot or can cross into the 18 yard box. Despite using this fluid system they also have the ability to play more direct and punt it over the the top to forwards such as Mitoma or Ueda. Ueda is an orthodox forward, he has a plethora or different ways to score. He likes to drop back and wait for a long ball over the top for him to run on to. He is also a prowess in the air utilising the overlapping fullbacks to get crosses on his head
Finally you have Tunisia, they are not favoured to go through which is fair compared to the ability of their competitors. They have the lowest ranking in their group of #44. They still have some players who can play and can try and disrupt normal service. Ellyes Skhiri is their captain and midfield maestro. He is an efficient distributor of the ball with an 88% pass success rate and dictates the tempo and break up opposing attacks. Another top player is Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri. He is a high pressing, physical, agile, midfielder who can slice defenses right open. His ability to win fouls really aids the team who are lethal from set pieces. Hannibal benefits Tunisia as his high energy and physicality reflects how they play which makes them a solid team with spark going forward.
Despite being second fiddle to the other teams, the North African side stand a chance of progressing however the 3 teams above them are favoured to go through and will most likely be one of the 8 best third placed finishers.
Group G
Group B has two clear favourites, Belgium and Egypt. With the two teams having big stars such as Mo Salah, Kevin De Bruyne and Omar Marmoush. They have top talent that can beat any team. New Zealand, with Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood, are playing in their first World Cup since 2010 and despite being tipped to leave early, they are hoping to disrupt normal order and prove themselves on the big time. Iran are in a bit of a pickle as they are at war with hosts USA but they are trying to focus on their game and get to the knockout stages of the World Cup
A team expected to go through is Belgium and they should do so in style with players like Man City Icon and current Napoli midfielder Kevin De Bruyne. With 5 goals and 1 assist in an injury ridden season, he hasn't been at his best but he is still a key asset to Belgium. His passing is elite level with him averaging 55 passes per game with 86% of them being successful. He also is a chance creator making 32 in 17 appearances. Another Belgian star is Manchester City winger Jeremy Doku, with 7 goals and 8 assists this season, he is an explosive, energetic fast winger with elite skills on the ball. With the ability to break down defenses and get shots on goal makes him a key asset for Rudi Garcia. He aids Belgium as they tend to rely on aggressive wingers and with his high level physicality and ball skills he can get past and break down defenses and get crosses into the box or cut in and shoot. He also provides a service to main striker Romelu Lukaku.
Another team expected to qualify for the round of 32 is Egypt. They have players like Mo Salah, Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabin. One of the players who isn't really known in England is defensive rock Ramy Rabia. With 3 goals and an astonishing 21 clean sheets for Al Ain, he is a ball playing centre back who can read the game well. Omar Marmoush, with 11 goal involvements this season for City, is vital in how Egypt play. Also, completing 22 dribbles and 122 passes he can really play and is vital in the success of his national team. His ability to cut inside and shoot is vital in how Egypt play making darting runs then cutting inside and passing or shooting he is a real problem from defenders and creates lots of chances.
Despite being in conflict, Iran are hoping to qualify, they have World Cup experience, this being their fifth in a row. They play a rigid. 4-4-2 or 4-1-4-1 formation with trying to get play to target man Mehdi Taremi, with 16 goals and 5 assists this season. He has good movement off the ball and can play balls in for his teammates to score. Being 6"2, he also has Ariel dominance, winning 59 ariel duels this season and scoring 3 headers. Iran rely heavily on him and try and get the ball up to him in swift counter attacks aiming to get the ball up the pitch with long passes pinged across the pitch from defense or deep in midfield.
Making their third World,Cup appearance and first since 2010 is New Zealand. They were the first team to qualify via Oceania's first ever direct qualification spot. They are led by Nottingham Forest striker Chris Wood with 45 international goals in 88 appearances. Also they have Swansea midfielder Mario Stamenić who is the engine in this normal 4-2-3-1 formation and with excellent passing and aggressive tackling he perfect for breaking up play and controlling the tempo in the All Whites possession heavy system.
Despite having 2 heavy favourites, Group G is a good group with a mix of world class and inexperienced teams trying to cause an upset and will be an interesting watch.
Group H
Consisting of Spain, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Uruguay, Group H is an exciting group with having one of the favourites to win it, Spain. They are expected to get through, but it won't be easy as all of their competitors are good sides who will all want to stay in the tournament for a little bit longer.
World Cup debutants Cape Verde are in a difficult group and are favourites to be eliminated. Typically, they play a classic 4-3-3 formation, sometimes looking like a 4-2-3-1 and tend to go forward utilising the wide areas of the pitch. They defend with mid blocks and tend to apply aggressive tacking in their play. Central Midfielder Kevin Pina is key in their defense as he is tasked with breaking up play. Centre back Logan Costa helps create a physical back line that drop back deep into their own box in order to clear crosses and block shots with their ariel dominance.
Led by Leeds legend Marcelo Bielsa, Uruguay are favourites to get that second qualifying spot and challenge Spain to the first spot. With LaLiga winning centre back Ronald Araújo in the side he help foster the ultra high press. Standing at 6"3, he is a force in the air, winning 66% of all duels in the air. One of his best abilities is to be dominant in 1 v 1 defending, being able to neutralise tricky skillful wingers and forwards. Despite having to take a mental health break and drop down the Barcelona pecking order, he still a major defensive anchor in Bielsa's side. Also they have Real Madrid midfielder Frederico Valverde. His box-to-box style and his ability to carry the ball and get in long range shots makes him one of the most important players on the pitch. One of his roles is connecting defines to attack and being a transitional player helping go to one end to the other, and with 8 goals and 11 assists he is paramount in creating goals.
Next, we see European champions, Spain. They arguably have the best squad in the whole tournament with players like David Raya, Rodri and Alejandro Grimaldo, they really should go far in this year's tournament. In goal, they have Arsenal #1 David Raya, with 19 clean sheets and 60 saves in the Premier League this season, he not only is a brilliant shot stopper but also has top level passing with 3/4 of his passes being successful. His clean sheets is the record this season. Their most important player is midfielder anchor Rodri. He orchestrates play being a top playmaker for them. He has executed 92% of his passes successfully in the PL and has won over 64% or his duels. He also enables the attacking midfielders to go forward and get in on goal. Also, they have 18 year old Barcelona superstar, Lamine Yamal who is an elite dribbler and is one of the best players for goal involvements with 24 goals and 15 assists this season he will be really useful out wide and will link up well with Rodri and he will then either cross or shoot.
Lastly, we have Saudi Arabia. After the shock sacking of manager Hervé Renard they have switched to Georgia's Donis, who likes to play a possession based game tailored to the counter attack. They do this by doing patient passing and waiting for the moment to advance forward. One of their fullbacks, Saul Abdulhamid, is an important player in their system, making overlapping runs when going forward. Also, in attack, they have team captain Salem Al-Dawsari, he has 25 goals for the Saudis and he does much more. He is an elite dribbler and can navigate tight spaces and on top of that can put in a good cross into the box. Seen as he is the captain, he has elite on the pitch leadership and is a huge figure in the dressing room.
Group H is an interesting group with lots of good talent with only 2 or 3 getting through, with all these good teams playing each other, don't miss out.
Group I
Group I is a strong group with with some of the favourites for the tournament batting it out. France, Senegal, Iraq and Norway are the competition with one or two having to leave.
Norway, making their first appearance since 1998, are hopeful of making the next round. With 55 goals in 49 appearances, Man City #9 Erling Haaland leads the line for them and he averages over 1 goal a game. He is a clinical finisher with 27 goals in 35 appearance this season, 28% of his shots go in and has taken a whopping 96 shots. In midfield, they have Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard. He has 7 assists and an 87% passing rate which is one of the best in the Premier League. With a 3.67 xA , that really highlights his passing and ball distribution. Norway tend to play a classic 4-3-3 shape and build up from the midfield with Sander Berge, Patrick Berg and Martin Ødegaard building it up and getting the ball forward. They can also play direct, inviting the press and lumping it forward to the wingers or the strikers to create a chance.
Iraq are tipped to make an early exit from the tournament as they dont have the same level of players as the others. That's not to say they're automatically gone. They are a highly rigid, organised team that usually play in a 4-4-2 formation prioritising defense over possession. They rely an physical pressing and utilise their central midfielders to break up attacks before they get to the goal. They try and get the ball up the pitch to star boy Aymen Hussein. With 33 international goals in 93 caps, he is a prolific number 9 who can bang them in and get goals to get through games. In defense they have Zaid Tahseen. His stats are last season as the Uzbek league is a bit different starting in February. With 6 clean sheets and 2 tackles and 5 ball recoveries per match he a defensive wall and is key in keeping the opposition at bay.
Next we have 2018 winners, France. Being one of the top seeds they have some unbelievable players such as Kylian Mbappé, William Saliba and Ousmane Dembélé. They arguably have the strongest squad in the world and can really challenge to win any game versus anyone. Let's look at defense, with Premier League winner William Saliba on their team be brings defensively excellence to the team. With 24 clean sheets and 1 goal for the Gooners this season in all competitions, he really is a star player. With 93% of his passes being successful and his ability to shadow defend and forcing the opponent in to difficult situations, he is vital in how the French play. With a high sprint speed, he can recover the ball well which enables France to play a high defensive line. In attack they have some of the best talent on the planet including PSG winger Ousmane Dembélé. He is a two footbed winger who has unmatched dribbling and is the key to unlocking the vault of low blocks. He has 19 goals and 11 assists alongside his goals and is pivotal in not only scoring goals but providing them typically by crossing the ball in to the box. In France's 4-2-3-1 shape, he can play as part of the attacking rotation drifting wide and then going central, bamboozling opponents and is a real annoyance.
To wrap up the group, we have African Giants Senegal. Playing an aggressive 4-3-3 formation, with Liverpool legend Sadio Mané as winger and Nicolas Jackson as their main striker. They tend to play a counter attacking style aiming to get vertical balls up top and get the balls out wide for wingers to dribble and then pass or cut in and shoot. In their plays forward, they use overlapping fullbacks that add depth to their forward play and use the midfield to press the opposition. A player key in this is Kalodou Koulibaly. He is a long standing team captain. He is physical wins most of his duels, due to his experience, he organises the defense and allows his ball playing counter parts to move forward. Up front they have Bayern Munich striker Nicolas Jackson and Al-Nassr winger Sadio Mané. Mané is their match winner as he almost plays as a second striker alongside Jackson. Mané has 53 goals in 126 appearances and is a real striker who can get goals with service in the attacks.
Group I is a strong group with all 3 big teams likely to get through as a best third placed finisher, with Iraq lurking behind their shoulders waiting to pounce on a mistake.
Group J
Consisting of Argentina, Austria, Jordan and Algeria this group has 2 clear favourites to progress with Algeria closely behind Austria in the running order with Jordan as a real outsider to progress.
Argentina, with stars like Lionel Messi and Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández, they are a strong side who are hoping to retain their title. They play a ball heavy style in a 4-2-3-1 formation with their midfielders like Alexis Mac Allister using high press when out of possession to try and win the ball back and get it forward. On the wing, they have arguably the GOAT of football, Lionel Messi, with 116 goals and 61 assists for Argentina, he has won everything there is to win and despite not being in his prime, he is still a player with great skills on the ball and can get through opposition defenses and his clinical finishing and his high level passing, he is a critical player for Argentina not only with his skills but his leadership too.
Next we have Austria. They are making their first appearance since 1998 and are hoping to progress to the round of 32. They play counter-pressing meaning they try and win the ball back the second it's lost. Using players such as Marcel Sabitzer, Patrick Wimmer and Paul Wanner to overload the midfield, this allows the fullbacks to get forward leaving the defense utterly open for the, to run at and score or create goals. In defense they have ball playing deep anchor, David Alaba, the Real Madrid Centre back, despite having limited game time, is a key player for Austria as he has effective leadership and experience. On the pitch this season, he has had a whopping 94% passing accuracy and can play the ball well. Also he can position himself well in order to read attacks and get the ball clear. For Austria, he is known for playing the ball over the top bypassing midfield and getting it up to the guys in attack can do their thing.
Making their World Cup debut this summer is Jordan. They are favourites to be eliminated as they aren't well known on the world stage. They play a low block to try and keep better, more experienced front lines quiet and try and attack via counter attacks and get it to their big man up Yazan Al- Naimat. Despite being out with an ACL injury, he should be back in time for their first game. During qualification, he scored 8 goals and was key in their historic feat. At the back, they have FC Seoul defender Yazan Al-Arab, he is their best defender and his a heavy tackler and wins most of his duels. He anticipates play well and is an immense force in the air.
Finally, we have Algeria. On the wing, they have Man City legend and current Al-Ahli winger Riyad Mahrez. Providing 8 assists and 4 goals this season in Saudi, he is a right winger who tends to cut inside on his left foot and get shots on goal. He is a good ball distributor and is a critical player in their front line and not only scores goals but assists too with 8 this season he cuts balls back to the back post for his teammates to get on the end of. They also have a very versatile left back in Rayan Aït-Nouri, he has thrived under Pep and now regularly drifts into midfield to help. He is an attacking, forward thinking player who's elite dribbling and threat going forward cements his place in the North African Side. Being a left back means you have to defend and he does it well winning the majority of his 1v1 duels. He also makes key interceptions in play and then gets the ball forward. This summer, in Algerias 4-2-3-1 shape he is expected to play left back and be a real headache not only for opposing attackers but defenders too.
With Argentina hoping to retain their title and should get to the next round, there is one automatic spot to play for with both Algeria and Austria fancying themselves. Jordan are hoping to show themselves to the world by putting in good performances and maybe sneaking into the next round.
Group K
Group K is a fairly weak group with Portugal being overwhelming favourites for the next round with DRC, Colombia and Uzbekistan fighting for that illusive second place.
Portugal with 41 year old Christano Ronaldo leading the lines are expected to qualify. Under manager Roberto Martinez, they tend to play a 4-3-3 formation with Ronaldo being the focal point of that. They use midfield playmakers like Bruno Fernandez, with 21 assists this season, an all time Premier League record, to unlock space and control the tempo. Outside of possession, they put on high pressure to try and win the ball high up and get a quick attack. With Man City colossus Rúben Dias at the back, they are hard to break down and with Dias being able to track forwards with raw strength to get them off the ball. He is also a key in starting the attacking buildup making about 72 passes per game and with high accuracy, he is pivotal in starting moves from the back. In attack, they have absolute ledgend of the game CR7, with over 1000 careers goals he is the striker Portugal have been relying for years with 143 goals for his country. He can finish in all sorts of ways from stunners from outside the box to 1 yard tap ins he can score from anywhere and gets on the end of passes and uses his agility and physical aggression to navigate tight defenses
Also in group K is Democratic Republic of the Congo. With some good talent such as Yoane Wissa and Aaron Wan-Bissaka, they play a rigid 4-1-4-1 shape when defending and a 4-3-3 when going forward with their signature counter attack. They focus on densive solidity and transitioning forward using the counter attacks. Up front they have Newcastle striker Yoane Wissa who can play both Striker but also drifts out to the left flank. He is lethal in the box with next level positioning that lets him get on the end of crosses and rebounds. A key player in their system is Samuel Moutoussamy he is a high intensity tackler who breaks up rival build up and quickly stars a counter attack.
Next we have Colombia, with star players like Luis Días and Jhon Durán they are defensively solid side utilising counter attacking and getting to creative wingers. Bayern Munich starboy Luis 'Lucho' Días, who has an astonishing 15 goals and 14 assists for Bayern, he is by a county mile the best player their team combining creative flair and top level finishing and passing which sets him out from the rest. A key defensive figure is Galatasary defender Davidson Sánchez. Standing at 6"2, he is a set piece threat with 3 goals from corners for Colombia. He tries to stop attacks early, doing so by using raw power and physical strength. He specialises in last man tackling and is an effective leader on the pitch.
Under World Cup winner with Italy, Fabio Cannavaro, Uzbekistan are making their first ever World Cup appearance. They prioritise structural discipline over sexy football. They play a structured 3-4-2-1 formation with Man City defender Abduqodir Khusanov at the back. He is their key defensive player and is an old school defender who uses strength and slide tackles to get the ball, and with an elite 92% passing accuracy in the PL this season, he is able to distribute the ball to start attacking. Their main forward is Eldor Shomurodov. He is the joint top scorer in the Turkish Süper Lig with 22 goals. He helps Uzbekistan as he is a main 6"3 target man and the ball can be played forward to him. He is also a clinical finisher with about 1/4 of his shots being scored. This is perfect for Uzbekistan as they need a clinical striker to get goals and take whatever chances they will get. They are probably the best debutants and have a decent chance of progressing.
With Portugal heavily favoured to move forward, all three other teams will all have a chance as they can all compete with each other. This is an open group and one to keep an eye on.
Group L
Having England, Ghana, Croatia and Panama, the Final World Cup group is quite an interesting one with 3 teams having a good chance of getting through.
Ghana have a strong team, arguably the best in Africa, with players such as Antoine Semenyo, Brandon Thomas Asante and Iñaki Williams, they are a side that are compact and like to get the ball to their exiting forward players who use their talent to smash open discombobulated defenses. In defense, they tend to block central passing routes forcing opponents out wide. A key defensive player for them is Jerome Opoku. He is a colossal 6"5 centre half. With his height, he is an Ariel prowess winning a 3/4 of his Ariel duels, also, he is a physical defender who uses his size to choke oncoming forwards. Also, he is comfortable on the ball and 9 out of 10 of his passes get to their intended destinations. This is useful as he can get the ball quickly and efficiently to the front line. Further up the pitch they have Man City winger Antoine Semenyo, who has 18 goals and 5 assists this campaign. He has complete ampidexterity and that makes him hard to defend against as he can't be taken onto his weak foot. He is playful, creative, energetic player on the wing. The majority of his goals come from cutting inside and shooting. He also presses defenders making chances his own and also loiters around the back post when his team are on the other side.
Thomas Tuchel's England are third favourites to win it behind France and Spain. They have a strong 26 man squad with some questionable exclusions. Still, they have got some great players like Harry Kane, Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa. Harry Kane is a England's starting striker and with 61 goals and 7 assists this season, and with 78 goals for the three lions, he is an out and out goalscorer and is their primary goal source. Behind him is Aston Villa superstar Morgan Roders. He has 13 goals and 11 assists for Villa this year and also won Europa League player of the season. He is an attacking midfielder who also is capable of playing in on the wing. With his 11 assists, he is a dynamic playmaker and has stunning passing vision that can break up lines with ease. For England, he serves as a bridge between the deeper midfield and the front line. His ability on the ball also means he can break low blocks and can create space for his teammates. In between the sticks they have Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford, with 11 clean sheets and 99 saves this season, he has a save effiency of 67%. Also, in penalty shootouts his record is phenomenal with him saving 25% of penalties this season. Besides his shot stopping, he is a vocal sweeper keeper who tends to play long balls over the top for players like Saka to get on.
2018 runners-up Croatia will be hoping to progress from the group stage and to the round of 32. Despite having Ghana fighting for a second place, providing England top the group, they are favourites to finish second. Under Zlatko Dalić, they tend to play a possession based 4-3-3 formation that tries to control the tempo of the game. In midfield, they have Real Madrid icon Luka Modrić and Man City midfielder Mateo Kovačić, they suffocate opposing attacks and get it to their preferred tempo. With their wingers drifting inside, this allows fullbacks like Josip Stanišić to overlap adding depth to their attacks and is key for them to break down defenses. At the back, they have 37 year old winger Ivan Perišić, he has 12 goal contributions this year he is an older player who's experience can really lead them forward. He is also an ariel threat and despite being a winger, he is willing to track back and stop attackers getting to the back line.
Finally, we have Panama, they are expected to make an early exit, which is reasonable compared to to their opponents. Despite havign to play against superior opponents, they play a possession heavy 3-4-3 formation under head coach Thomas Christiansen. A paramount player in their squad is engine in midfield, Adalberto Carrasquilla. He is the tempo setter of the game is crucial for maintaining possession. Also, there is their high pushing wingbacks. Seen as their usual left and right forwards drop inside, the wingbacks are responsible for the flanks and putting in crosses into the box and shooting. Their main striker is José Fajardo, despite having only 3 goals and the singular assist, he has only played ten games as his season with Universidad Católica as their season starts at a different time. He wins about half his duels and is able to hold up the ball well for his teammates to run in for him to pass it to. Due to his ability to hold up play and win duels, he relieves pressure on midfield as the defence and boot it up to him more directly, with his skills on holding up the ball, he creates space in the channels for the other forwards to get in the box and shoot.
Conclusion
The 2026 World Cup is certainly one to savour with many different teams entering from 5 times winners Brazil to tiny island nations like Cape Verde making their debut. At Galactic Football, our favourites are Spain as they have elite players combined with tactics that win them games. With countries uniting together and rivals becoming teammates, it is truly a world spectacle.